Joe Guzzardi – CAPS — This month, the UC Berkeley Labor Center issued a more detailed study about workers in service-related industries that paints a grim picture. The Berkeley study found that even though they are employed, the combination of low wages, lack of benefits and part-time status means that most families of fast food workers must rely on taxpayer-funded safety net programs for their basic needs…
Despite the pitiful wages the industry offers, it’s lobbying to pay even less. Casual observers might think that’s impossible. But they’d be wrong. The industry supports House legislation that would import more unskilled immigrant labor and which would also put at risk marginally employed Americans. The proposed House bill, which would create a new “W” visa, would add 20,000 new low-skilled workers annually until the 220,000 cap was reached.
As the Berkeley report emphasizes, America’s service employees rely heavily on government assistance to scratch out the most meager existence. Importing more unskilled workers whose few job qualifications would include fast food preparation shows Congress’ callous indifference to the daily struggles of many Americans… [Read More]
